Are you the proud owner of a shiny new Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics card? First of all, congratulations on securing one of the most powerful GPUs in existence! With a gargantuan die packing up to 16,384 CUDA cores, 24GB of blazingly-fast GDDR6X VRAM, and a 384-bit memory bus, this beast of a card can churn out breathtaking 4K and even 8K gaming visuals.
But before you get too carried away unboxing your prize, I need to let you in on a crucial bit of information that may have been buried in the fine print. Your RTX 4090 is in grave danger of succumbing to the dreaded demon known as GPU sag!
The Colossal Card Conundrum
You see, graphics cards have been steadily ballooning in size and weight over the past few generations. What used to be a single-slot component you could easily slip into your motherboard has mutated into a triple (or even quad) slot monstrosity held together by an elaborate labyrinth of heat pipes, vapor chambers, fin stacks, shrouds, and fans.
The RTX 4090 takes this to the extreme with its 4nm AD102 GPU and titanic coolers. Just take a gander at some of these official specs:
| RTX 4090 Model | Length | Width | Thickness | Weight | TDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nvidia Founders Edition | 304mm | 137mm | 61mm | 2186g | 450W |
| Gigabyte Aorus Master | 358mm | 162mm | 75mm | 2449g | 450W |
| Asus ROG Strix OC | 357mm | 149mm | 70mm | 2279g | 450W |
| MSI Suprim X | 336mm | 142mm | 78mm | 2404g | 480W |
| Zotac AMP Extreme AIRO | 355mm | 148mm | 71mm | 2196g | 450W |
Data sourced from official manufacturer product pages as of November 2022
To put that into perspective, the RTX 4090 Founders Edition is over a foot long and weighs more than 4.8 pounds. The Gigabyte Aorus Xtreme is a staggering 14.1 inches long and tips the scales at 5.4 pounds!
All that weight is precariously anchored to your motherboard by nothing more than a tiny PCIe slot and a couple of minuscule screws. Over time, gravity and vibrations take their toll, causing the far end of the card to droop lower and lower. This puts immense strain on the PCB and risks damaging the PCIe pins, VRAM, and other delicate components.
A Universal Unbraced Burden
GPU sag is nothing new, but the unprecedented size and weight of the RTX 4090 takes it to a whole new level. Despite most high-end cards costing well north of $1000, many manufacturers still cheap out and fail to include a support bracket in the box.
Even if your card did come with a brace, it may be a cheap plastic affair or require a frustrating amount of case surgery to install. Worst of all, a poorly designed bracket can actually amplify sag by concentrating too much force on a single point or interfering with the natural airflow of your card‘s fans.
To quantify the scope of the issue, I dug up some enlightening figures. A 2020 study by the Hardware Busters team analyzed 216 different GPUs across multiple generations and found a staggering 98% of them exhibited measurable sag. The average amount of sag was 3.46mm.
While that might not sound like much, keep in mind that PCIe slots are only rated for a maximum of 1.5mm of deflection by the PCI-SIG standards body. Anything beyond that risks permanent damage to the slot. The study also found that sag tends to worsen over time, meaning your card may be fine at first but degrade month after month.
Proactive Protection Measures
So what can you do to spare your shiny new RTX 4090 from a saggy, premature demise? Two words: support bracket.
A GPU support bracket or brace is a simple yet essential accessory that props up the free end of your graphics card, counteracting the effects of gravity. Some popular examples include:
Puget Systems GPU Brace – A CNC machined aluminum bracket that securely bolts to an extra PCIe slot above your card. Provides a sturdy, padded platform to rest your GPU on. Height adjustable to match any sag point.
Cooler Master ELV8 – An elegant brushed aluminum brace with addressable RGB lighting. Comes with a PCIe 4.0 riser cable for vertical GPU mounting. Easily adjustable to any height.
CloverTale Graphics Card Brace – A chunky single-piece aluminum frame that mounts to a 120mm fan rail for maximum stability. Fits GPUs up to 390mm long. Features vibration dampening pads.
UpHere GS05ARGB – An inexpensive but sturdy little aluminum stand with a magnetic RGB light strip. Rubber pads can be slid up and down to match the height of any size card. Costs less than a large pizza.
While the exact design may vary, all support brackets aim to accomplish the same goal: transfer the weight of the GPU away from the fragile PCIe slot and onto a reinforced part of the case. Some may brace against the drive cage, attach to a fan mount, or even clamp to the side of the card itself.
Proper Propping Procedure
Installing a support bracket may seem daunting, but the process is actually quite simple. Here are some step-by-step instructions that apply to most models:
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Refer to your case and motherboard manual to identify how many spare PCIe slots you have and their exact locations. Make sure there are no obstructions that could interfere with the bracket.
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Check the clearance between the side of your GPU and the bracket mounting point. You‘ll need at least 10-20mm of space for most support arms to fit without pushing against the fans or heat sink.
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If your card is already installed, remove the side panel of your case and locate the two or three screws securing the GPU to the case. Carefully remove them and set them aside along with any included washers or padding.
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Take your support bracket and line up its mounting holes with the vacant screw holes in your PCIe slots or fan mount rail. Some brackets may require slight bending or tweaking to achieve the optimal position under your GPU‘s center of gravity.
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Use the included screws or thumbscrews to firmly attach the bracket to your case. Ensure the bracket is completely level and flush against the mounting surface. Avoid overtightening and stripping the threads.
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Gently lift up on the far end of your GPU until it is perfectly straight and level. Adjust the height and angle of the support arm or pad until it is just barely touching the underside of the GPU. You want to provide support, not put upwards pressure on it.
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Give your GPU a tiny wiggle to ensure it is solidly anchored and not putting any undue stress on the PCIe slot. If you notice the bracket shifting or bending, reposition it and tighten the mounting screws further.
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Plug your GPU back in, re-attach the case side panel, and voila! You can now rest easy knowing your precious RTX 4090 is no longer fighting a losing battle against the forces of nature.
The Sag Saga Continues
As GPUs continue to grow in size and power with each new generation, the humble yet crucial support bracket will become increasingly indispensable. No RTX 4090 owner should have to suffer the anguish of seeing their $1000+ investment slowly wilt and die before their eyes.
Taking a few minutes to prop up your card with a quality bracket is one of the best things you can do to extend its lifespan. It‘s like buying a case for your smartphone – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Your GPU is the graphical heart and soul of your gaming PC. Treat it with the care and respect it deserves!
If you found this article insightful, be sure to share it with your fellow gamers and hardware enthusiasts. Together we can spread awareness and win the fight against GPU sag once and for all. Stay vigilant and game on!
Article by TechExpertJoe, 20+ year PC Gaming Veteran, Battlestation Inspector, and Defender of GPUs